Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Do social networking sites have practical use?

As I mentioned in my last message, I have several ideas for posts that I’ve been sitting on for a while so here’s the first of these long-gestating posts.

These days, it seems that all sorts of media outlets (including the one where I work) have introduced a social networking component to their websites, thereby encouraging people to engage in social networking while on the job.

However, considering that sites like Facebook and MySpace are already known to be timewasters for employees, do you think mixing the two as such is a smart move? Or is it merely a more constructive alternative for employees who have a tendency to drift their attention away from the task at hand?

I have mixed feelings about this, as I can see both the benefits and drawbacks a system like this has. On the one hand, it can detract from other, ultimately more important parts of employees’ workdays, but it can also be a useful networking tool, at least in theory.

What do you guys think? Is social networking at work a good idea, at least for journalists? Clearly, the idea is to make connections that help your professional life, but does it even accomplish that goal? I'm not entirely convinced...

But I’m anxious to hear what you all think… Sound off in the comments section.

Rob out.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

I'm BACK...

...and honestly, I have no good reason for neglecting the Table. As you guys know, real life has a way of getting in the way of our creative aspirations. However, for the, like, 3 of you that care what I've been up to, let me offer this summary of what's gone down in my world since September (God, has it been that long since I posted here).

As most of you know, I've been working full-time at a local newspaper, and while it's been rewarding as all hell and given me an unbelievably large step forward in my career as a writer, it has also cut into my time to the point where I have taken something of a sabbatical from graduate school. While a 9 to 5 is definitely a setback as far as the creative process goes, I have managed to make some progress on my never-ending screenplay (halfway through the 2nd draft finally!), have brainstormed some song ideas and even reignited my passion for a novel that I started with a friend (in fact, it'll be my next project once my screenplay is done...whenever that is...lol). Aside from that, I've been dealing with a myriad of other ongoing irritants, including some just-resolved issues relating to my coursework.

Yesterday, I conducted an interview for an upcoming story with a local professional who also dabbles in creative stuff, and he offered me some wise words of encouragement about how I wouldn't want to let years go by and look back on writing that I never finished. I had already been looking to return to the Table and re-focus on my screenplay and such, but this apparently was that nudge I needed to actually make my triumphant re-emergence (haha...).

In any case, I hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day, Halloween, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and any other holiday I missed in my absence. I have plenty of ideas for posts, and I promise I will attempt to post on here more regularly. Maybe I can even manage a weekly post. :0
Although we all know how writers do with schedules... ;)

Stay tuned......
Robert out